Morning Chirps: Murphy trade reaction, Foligno to IR

The Chicago Blackhawks got a jump on the trade deadline yesterday, so they will have a bit of a different look against the Winnipeg Jets tonight. Be sure to check back in for more trade deadline and game day coverage throughout the day.

Blackhawks Chirps

• The big news of the day was the trade of defenseman Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers for a second-round pick in 2028.

• As I wrote, the Blackhawks, the Oilers, and Connor Murphy all got what they wanted and needed out of this trade.

• Frank and I jumped onto the Second Balcony to discuss the trade, what the defensive pairings might look like, and who else could be on the way out before Friday.

• On this date in 1875, the first organized indoor ice hockey game was played at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal. While a lacrosse ball was used for outdoor games, the two teams competing on this day used a flat wooden disk instead.

• In 2021, Niklas Hjalmarsson played in his 800th NHL game, as the Arizona Coyotes beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. He played the first 623 games of his career with the Blackhawks, winning three Stanley Cups. Ironically, he was traded for Murphy in 2017.

• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, March 3: Steve Hrymnak, Joey Johnston, Al Secord, and Stephane Robidas.

NHL Chirps

• Hopefully, Kiefer Sherwood didn’t throw away all his moving boxes. According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, the San Jose Sharks are “open” to trading him just six weeks after acquiring him. Johnston says the two sides are far apart on a contract extension, so the Sharks would rather trade him before Friday than lose him for nothing this summer. They gave up a pair of second-round picks and a prospect to get him from the Vancouver Canucks, but they may not be able match that now. He has no points in just four games for the Sharks, as an upper-body injury kept him out until the last game before the Olympic break.

• While Nick Foligno ponders his future in Chicago, his brother, Marcus, was placed on injured reserve by the Minnesota Wild. The move was retroactive to Feb. 27, meaning he will miss at least two games as he deals with a lower-body injury. The Wild also claimed Robby Fabbri off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.

• Speaking of waivers, the Detroit Red Wings waived former Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson. He will be sent to the Grand Rapids Griffins if he clears, which is likely. He’s been a healthy scratch in 12 of Detroit’s last 13 games.

• Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters yesterday that captain Mark Stone is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

• NHL Birthday Roll Call, March 3: Kelly Miller, Bob Kudelski, Brian Leetch, Colton Orr, Alexander Semin, Alexander Petrovic, and Clay Stevenson.